By: Anna Miller, PhD
The transition from obtaining a PhD to a first post-doc role can be challenging! The Nascent Transcript interviewed members of the ASHG Career Development Committee (CDC) and Program Committee (PC), about their experience landing their first role in academia, industry, or science communications. We spoke with Andrew Marderstein, PhD, currently a Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY, and a member of the PC; Arwa Raies, PhD, currently a Senior Data Scientist at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, United Kingdom; and Jordan Whitlock, PhD, currently a Scientific Coordinator at SETBP1 Society in Austin, TX, and members of the CDC about their experiences and some tips they have for landing a first post-doc role.
1. How did you first hear about your first role?
Andrew Marderstein, PhD (AM): When it was time to graduate from my PhD, I knew that I wanted to pursue a postdoc in academia, so I didn’t seriously consider industry positions. In academia, many postdoc opportunities aren’t formally posted, which means you often have to be proactive and reach out to potential advisors. I first connected with my eventual postdoc advisor (Stephen Montgomery at Stanford University) at the ASHG Annual Meeting in Houston in 2019 while I was still a graduate student. I had followed his work closely, and after hearing positive feedback about working in his lab from other lab members, I knew it would be the right environment for me. This is how I came to work at Stanford in my first role after graduating.
Arwa Raies, PhD (AR): When it comes to job searching in general, and securing the first role after university in particular, I find several factors incredibly helpful. First, leveraging both professional and personal networks are crucial. This includes reaching out to current and former classmates, colleagues, and mentors who can provide valuable insights into potential job opportunities and company cultures. Additionally, professional societies and career-oriented social media platforms are powerful resources. They not only allow students and early-career professionals to connect with industry experts but also enable them to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in their fields. Finally, current and prospective graduates are encouraged to make the most of career development resources and career fairs. The latter is especially important as it offers an excellent opportunity for networking, building connections, and learning more about companies, their values, and cultures.
Jordan Whitlock, PhD (JW): I knew I had always wanted to be in the rare disease advocacy and research space since starting my undergraduate degree. I have always wanted to help push the boundaries and drive science to benefit the patient community. Before my current role, I started out doing some volunteer work for both the SETBP1 Society and the Schinzel Giedion Syndrome Foundation during the latter portion of my PhD. The rare disease gene I worked on for my thesis project can cause both diseases depending on the type and location of the variant. I was invited to a joint scientific collaboration call to share the latest research I had published on SETBP1. In that meeting, I was connected with both nonprofits and SETBP1 researchers located all over the globe, spread across industry and academia. I kept attending the meetings to stay up to date on the latest research and build my relationships within the scientific community. After my defense of my PhD, with graduation looming, I reached out to my research network and let them know. I was interested in continuing in the SETBP1 space. From there, I was offered a board position for both nonprofits and a scientific coordinator role for the SETBP1 society.
2. What was helpful in your job search and interview process?
AM: Networking and personal connections were crucial. I spoke with mentors and peers about labs they admired or had experience in, which helped me create a shortlist of principal investigators (PI) doing exciting research that aligned with my interests. From there, I emailed each PI with a brief introduction, my CV, and a concise statement explaining why I was excited about their work. In academia, it’s not unusual for PIs to be slow in replying, so polite follow-ups are key—I once had a PI respond enthusiastically after six months! Persistence and a proactive approach go a long way in securing interviews. Personally, I found networking at an ASHG Annual Meeting ultimately led to my future postdoc position years down the road!
AR: I personally consider job interviews an excellent networking opportunity. I attend interviews excited for the prospect that the people I am about to meet may become either my colleagues or future collaborators. Ultimately, the purpose of the interview is to determine whether the candidate and the position are the right match. Therefore, the candidate is interviewing the employer just as much as the employer is interviewing them. It is important for candidates to ask meaningful questions to help them determine if the role is right for them, learn about the company’s work, values, and culture, and consider where this position might lead them and whether it fits in with their professional and personal aspirations. Candidates can view interviews as an opportunity to showcase their strengths and capabilities beyond what is presented in a CV or resume, and steer the conversation to tell their own story, explain their thought process, and highlight interesting findings and lessons learned.
JW: About a year before I planned to defend my PhD, I started doing coffee calls and informational interviews. Leveraging LinkedIn and a few initial connections through PIs at my university, I scheduled two to four, 15–20-minute Zoom or phone calls with individuals in various roles across companies and organizations I was interested in or may want to work for someday. In these, I would not only ask about job responsibilities, the culture, their work-life balance, and how the individual got to where they were, but I would also ask for one or two additional names I could contact next. Slowly, over the year, I built my network in the rare disease space so that when I was ready to graduate, I not only knew what types of titles to look out for when applying but also had a list of individuals to circulate my resume/CV to when I was ready.
3. How did you prepare for the interviews?
AM: I started by carefully thinking about the specific skills and research directions I hoped to pursue in a postdoc. Since many postdoc interviews require a formal talk—typically 40–60 minutes long—similar to a PhD dissertation presentation, I tried to highlight aspects of my PhD research most relevant to the prospective lab’s work. I reviewed their recent publications and grants, so I could discuss how my background fit into their ongoing research. I practiced with colleagues to refine my “story” or how my past research, my future goals, and the lab’s ongoing projects all fit together, while helping me anticipate questions and polish my delivery. Beyond the talk itself, I prepared to talk to current students and postdocs to gauge the lab’s culture and mentorship style. Understanding how a lab operates on a daily basis—collaboration, communication, expectations—is just as crucial as the research focus. Ultimately, I wanted a supportive environment where I could thrive while developing new skills.
AR: My advice for someone starting their job search is to approach the process with strategic planning, persistence, and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. Begin by clarifying your career goals and identifying roles and industries that align with your skills, interests, and values. Be open-minded to unexpected opportunities and explore options beyond the conventional career trajectory of your profession. While leveraging networks is beneficial, you should not limit your search to them. Branch out and explore opportunities beyond what your connections can offer. Lastly, maintain a positive mindset and patience throughout the process.
4. Did you negotiate your salary or benefits?
AM: Academic postdoc salaries typically follow a set institutional, or NIH pay scale, leaving little room for negotiation. Some exceptions exist—particularly in labs with specialized funding or a need for unique skills that might command higher pay in industry—but these cases tend to be the exception rather than the rule. Where you often have the most flexibility is in your start date. Postdocs generally have leeway in deciding when to begin, so if you need time to complete your PhD requirements, relocate, or simply recharge, you can work with your future advisor to find the best timeline. Lastly, it’s worth discussing any potential benefits or resources. Different labs have different policies when it comes to conference travel funding or extra research allowances, and you should ask both the PI and lab members about this.
5. What advice do you have for someone starting their job search?
AM: The postdoc search can feel unstructured, so patience is key. Focus on finding a lab that suits your interests, learning goals, and personal values. The postdoc phase is a unique time to immerse yourself in new techniques, expand your scientific network, and strengthen your research identity. Make sure the environment and topic genuinely excite you.
Finally, transitioning from a PhD to a postdoc can be intense. Building in a short break to rest and reset before starting a new role can make a huge difference. I took a month-long road trip from New York to California after defending my PhD. Having that time away helped me recharge so that when I began my postdoc, I felt refreshed, motivated, and ready to go!
JW: For me, a job search was almost like a second, after-hours job that required extra effort. Start by narrowing down what you want to do in your future role or ruling out exactly what you don’t want and then go from there. Don’t be afraid to leverage the colleagues, social networks, and resources your university and societies like ASHG have that help prepare your resume or CV so when that dream position appears, you are ready to go for it.
–Anna Miller, PhD, is a Molecular Science Liaison at Caris Life Sciences in Richmond, VA.